Port Vale completed the double over Notts County due to a late Ronan Curtis goal. Here’s our match report.
Note:
Due to Rob attending an event on Thursday, this is a much shorter report than usual.
The winning goal came with minutes remaining. Ronan Curtis, on as a sub for the injured Jayden Stockley, controlled a cross from Lorent Tolaj and expertly converted from close-range.
Vale had made a number of changes for this game. Jack Shorrock played in place of the injured Jaheim Headley, George Byers came into midfield and Jesse Debrah returned to the defence.
It finished goalless at the break with County dominating play through most of the first 45 minutes. However, despite dominating possession they were unable to create many clearcut chances and would rue that as the game progressed.
Vale came more into the game in the second-half and created chances of their own. However, it looked like it may finish as a draw until Curtis’ late intervention saw Vale record their second 1-0 win over County in succession. Despite that late strike, it could easily have been a draw as County struck the woodwork in additional time. The Valiants held on despite seven minutes of added time.
In a tightly contested top of the table, the win moved Vale to within a point of second-placed County. It was arguably Vale’s best win of 2025 with the only negative being injuries to Shorrock and Stockley in the second-half.
Port Vale: Amos – Debrah, Smith, Hall – John (Harper), Harper, Croasdale, Shorrock (Hart) – Garrity – Stockley (Curtis), Tolaj (Umolu)
Subs: Broome, Hackford, Heneghan
Goal: Curtis (85)
Bookings: none
What did you think of the Vale performance? Post a comment below.
Classic game of two halves. Around us we figured Curtis on for Stockley would give the midfield much needed balance (Curtis to play just behind Tolaj and link with the central 3 who were outnumbered in the first half – The 3 in the middle played with unease/lack of contol). Seemed to work when Stockley came off injured. Can we coach Amos to stop pushing the ball back into the middle of the box if he can’t gather the ball from a shot… I’ve notied this seems to be his M.O. across a few games now and it just gives them 2 bites at the cherry! Basic keeping!
3points and the run goes on and can’t wait for next fixture. Decent gate for a Thursday night and on sky. Curtis becoming a vital player and very mobile and good positional wise. Keep the faith.
A great three points, Vale did what I thought was going to happen for county, score in the last few minutes.I was glad to see us go in 0-0 at half time, Garrity had a very poor game, he was well marked, out of the game, literally,at times.Debrah, played well and was my man of the match, he did not pass the ball back all the time, there was glimpses of a real Vale team at times.
A win is a win that’s about alls you can say about it. So many of Vale’s points are coming through the players attitude, spirit and sheer handwork which there is nothing wrong with, but I’m still not seeing a good well jelled team. While Amos played well, Smith to me was outstanding, and both Hall and Debrah did well, we could still have easily conceded 3or4 goals. Garrity, Byers and Croasdale is supposedly our best midfield but they looked totally disjointed and never looked in control of the midfield. Croasdale is a very good steady eddy, Garrity just somehow isn’t the Garrity we know at the moment, and as for Byers he’s a million miles away from being a Ray Walker. John did very well but Shorrock looks out of his depth at the moment and possibly Moore might have been better keeping Plant at the club as cover, being a little older and more experienced. Tolaj is working his socks off, however I would rather see him in the 6 yard box where his goals have been coming from. Stockley is Stockley. Saying that Stockley can be a bit static and Vales big turn around did come when he was replaced by Curtis. It gave us two sets of legs up there which helped us to push up on Notts. I really don’t know if Vale have the quality to go up especially with Moore ruling the roost as so many of the teams in and around the playoffs place’s have looked better teams than us when we’ve played them.